Some account of the Vernon manuscript, a volume of early English poetry preserved in the Bodleian Library

This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized
by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the
information in books and make it universally accessible.

Google" books

https://books.google.com

This is a reproduction of a library book that was digitized
by Google as part of an ongoing effort to preserve the
information in books and make it universally accessible.

Google" books

https://books.google.com

s

Digitized by v^.ooQle

Digitized by boo le

SOME ACCOUNT

OF

THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT,

A VOLUME OF

EARLY ENGLISH POETRY

PRESERVED IN

€i)t SoMtian Htfcrarp*

BY

J. 0. HALLIWELL, ESQ. F.R.S.,

ETC.

LONDON:

JOHN RUSSELL SMITH,

4, OLD COMPTON STREET, SOHO SQUARE.

1848.

Digitized by v^ooole

( Only fifty copies printed.)

Digitized by v^.ooQle

AN ACCOUNT

OF THB

VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

This celebrated volume was presented to the Bodleian
Library soon after the termination of the civil wars, by
Edward Vernon, esq. of Trinity college, Oxford. It is
described in Bernard’s Catalogue , 1697, page 181, as “ a
vast massy manuscript”; and truly so, for it is at once the
largest and most valuable relic of the kind that has been
preserved. The following notices of its contents are
printed from memoranda made some years ago for refer¬
ence, and without any view to publication. They must,
therefore, be accepted as very imperfect; but, in the absence
of any better, they will enable the student to form an
estimate of the nature of the contents of this remarkable
collection.

The manuscript is written on vellum, and must be
ascribed to the earlier part of the fourteenth century. It
numbers ff. 412 and 8 ab init.; ff. 311-318, 403-412, not
foliated; ff. 337-340, 369-372, interchanged by the foliator,
but rightly bound; ff. 273, 276, interchanged in the bind¬
ing; f. 406, torn; ff. 57-64, 81-88, 102, 106-113, 127-166,
248, 389-392, 402, wanting. The first part contains eight
leaves not foliated with the remainder:—“ Here bygynnen
the tytles of the book that is cald in Latyn tonge Salus
Anime, and in Englyshs tonge, Sowle-Hele." It com-

A 2

Digitized by v^.ooQLe

4

THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

mences: “ Nou let hure here and understonde ententyf-
lyche myne wordes”; and concludes with the words,—
“ That he and I mowe come to that blisse that I unwor-
thyly have spoken of, quod nobis misericorditer concedat,
qui vivit et regnat in secula seculorum. Amen.” In the
following list, the Arabic numerals designate the folios;
the Greek letters the columns; and the r° and v° the sides
of the leaf.

1. A translation of the Old and New Testament into verse, f. 1, T°, o.

Warton (i. 21) considers this to have been made before the year
1200, but I think erroneously.

Beg.— (aK£<f) . . . . “ hit cometh in my thouht.”

Ad finem,— “Jon hire was a trewe feere, and nolde noujt fro
hire go; He loked hire as his ladi deore, and what heo wolde,
hit was i-do.”

2. How the martyrs be God's knights. f. 9, r°, /3.

Beg.—“ Now bloweth this newe fruyt that late bigon to springe.”
Fin.—“ And fro on to othur so arowe the while the jer wol leste.”

3. Of new year's day. f. 9, i", fi.

Beg.—“ 3 eres day, the holy feste, hei$ day is and good.”

Ad fin.—“ The day is good to holde heije of men that beth wyse.”

4. Of twelfth-day {Epiphany), f. 9, v°, o.

Begin.—“ Twelfthe dai the heje feste nobliche is to holde.”

And end.—“ Wei ouhte we halewe that ilke day and honoure also.”

5. Of St. Hillare. f. 9, v°, a.

“ St. Hillare the holi mon of Aquitayne was.”

Ad fin.—“ Now God for the love of hym us bringe thider uchon.”

6. Of St. Walston , St. Edward , and William of Normandy . f. 9, v°, /3.

“ Seint Wolston Bisschop of Wircestre was her of Engelonde.”

Ad finem,—“ Now God leeve that we mote with him in the joye of
hevene beo.”

7. Of St. Fabian, f. 10, v°, o.

“ Seint Fabian threttene jer was in Roome.”

Ad fin.—“ And to the joye of hevene from pyne he gon wende.”

8. Of St. Agnes, i. 10, v°, fi.

“ Seint Agnes the holy mayde wel sone heo bygon.”

Ad finem,—“ And wende to the blisse of hevene aftur hire muchele
pyne.”

9. Of St. Vincent, f. 11, r°, @.

“ Seint Vincent in Spayne was and to a Cristene bisschop com.”

Ad finem,—“ That we mote to hevene come, and forjif us ure
misdede.”

Digitized by kjOOQle

THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

5

10 . Of St. Julian, f. 11 , v°, /3.

#t Seint Julian, the goode herbeogour, of noble kuyndecom.”

Ad fin.—“ That ur Lord us lete ur sunne bete and.hevene have to
mede.” (Hickes* Thes. i. 224.)

11 . Of St. Blase . f. 12 , r 0 , /3.

“ Seint Blase wel clene lyf ladde withouten hore.”

Ad finem,—“ That Seint Blase is inne i-broujt and that we therof
ne misse.”

12. Of St. Agace. f. 12 , v°, /3.

" Seint Agace that gode maide in Cisyle was i-bore.”

13. Of St. Scolace. f. 13, r°, /3.

“ Seint Scolace that holy mayde holy was of lyve.”

14. Of St. Valentin, f. 13, v°, a.

“ Seint Valentin the martir good mon was i-nouh.”

15. Of St. Juliane. f. 13, v°, a.

“ Seint Juliane com of he^e men, as we fyndeth i-write.”

16. Of St. Mathi. f. 14, r°, /3.

“ Seint Mathi Apostel is, as 30 schule alle i-wite.”

17. Of St. Oregon, f. 14, r°, /3.

“ Seint Gregori the confessour in Cisyle was i-bore.”

18. Of St. Longius. f. 14, v°, /3.

“ Seint Longius was a blind kniht, tho God was don on the roode.”

19. Of St. Edward, f. 14, v°, /3.

“ Seint Edward the 3 onge martir was kyng of Engelonde.”

20. Of St. Cutkberd. f. 15, v°, a.

“ Seint Cuthberd was i-bore her in Engelonde.”

21. Of St. Benet. f. 16, r°, a.

“ Seint Benet ladde holy lyf that was so holy mon.”

22 . Of St. Julian, f. 16, r°, fi.

“ Seint Julian the confessor i-bore was at Roome.”

23. Of St. Bride, f. 16, r°, /3.

“ Seint Bride of wel he 3 e men into Scotlonde com.”

24. Of St. Oswold. f. 16, v°, a.

“ Seint Oswold was i-bore heere in Engelonde.”

25. Of St. Chadde. f. 17, 1 *, fi.

“ Seint Chadde the gode mon was her of Engelonde ”

26. Of St. Marie Egipcian. f. 17, v°, a.

“ Seint Marie Egipcian in Egipte was i-bore.”

27 . (a) Of St. Mary's day in Lent. f. 18, v°, a.

“ Seinte Marie day in Lente among othur dayes gode.”

27.(b)0/^ Moveable feasts, f. 18, v°, a.

“ Festes meble ther beth i-cleped fyve in the 3 ere.”

Digitized by v^.ooQLe

6 THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

28. Stories from the New Testament, f. 19, v°, a.

“ Bifore six dayes of Ester as a palmesone eve.”

29. Of St. Alphe. f. 27, r°, (3.

■ “ Seint Alphe the martir, good mon was i-nouh.”

Compare MS. Bodl. 779, for another copy.

80. Of St. George . f. 28, r°, a.

“ Seint George the holi mon, as we fyndeth i-write.”

81. Of St. Mark. f. 28, r°, /3.

“ Seint Mark, the Godspellere, wyde wende aboute in londe.”

82. Of St. Peter, f. 28, r°, fi.

“ Seint Peter, the frere prechour in the cite of Veronye.”

88 , 84. Of St. Phelip and St. Jacob . f. 28, v°, a.

“ Seint Phelip and Seint Jacob apostles weoren tweyne.”

85. How the holy cross was found, f. 28, v°, /3.

“ The holy Bode, the swete treo, riht is to haven in mynde.”
The MS. Ashmole, 48, says,—

“ The Holi Rode was i-founde, as 36 witeth, in May,

And anhansed was in Septembre the Holi Rode day.”

36 Of St. Quiriac. f. 30, r°, a.

“ Seint Quiriac, the Bisschop, prechede Godus lawe.”

37. Of the miracles of the holy cross, f. 30, r°, a.

“ The holi Roode was i-founde, as 36 witeth, in May.”

38 Of St. Dunston. f. 30, v°, fi.

“ Seint Dunston was of Engelonde i-come of goode more.”

39. Of St. Aldelm. f. 31, r°, /3.

“ Seint Aldelm the confessour was mon of goode lyve.”

40. Of St. Augustin, f. 31, v°, a.

“ Seint Augustin that Cristendoni hrouhte into Engelonde.”

41. Of St. Pemele. f. 31, v°, /3.

“ Seint Pemele that holi mayde riht is to habben in mynde.”

42. Of St. Bamabe. f. 32, r°, a.

“ Seint Bamabe the Apostel that good was and hende.”

43. Of St. Adboruh. f. 32, r°, /3.

“ Seint Adboruh, that holi maide, was here of Englonde.”

44. Of St. Albon. f. 32, v°, /3.

“ Seint Albon this holy mon was here of Englonde.”

45. Of St. AyWriht. f. 33, r°, o.

“ Seint Aylbriht, the holy kyng, was of Englonde.”

46. Of St. Aeldrede. f. 33, r°, fi.

“ Seint Aeldrede of Heli god mayde was and hende.”

Digitized by v^.ooQle

THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

7

47. Of St. Botulf : f. 33, v°, a.

“ Seint Botulf this holy monk and Adulf his brother.”

48. Of St. Patrik. f. 33, v°, (3.

“ Seint Patrik com thorwh God to preche in Irelonde.”

49. Of St. John. f. 35, v°, /3.

“ Seint John was the beste bem, the holy baptyst.”

60. Of St. Peter, f. 36, r°, (3.

“ Seint Peter was with ur Lord of alle hise apostles hext.”

61 .Of St. Athelwold. f. 38, v°, (3.

“ Seint Athelwold Bisschop was, and in Engelonde i-bore.”

62. Of St. Swithyan. f. 39, r°, o.

“ Seint Swithyan the confessour was her of Englonde.”

63. Of St. Kenelm. f. 39, v°, a.

“ Seint Kenelm in Engelonde was i-come of goode streone.”

64. Of St. Margarete . f. 39, v°, (3.

“ Seinte Margarete was an holi maide and good.”

See also a MS. in Heber s Collection, Catal. part xi. MS. Ashm.
43; Trin. Coll. Oxon. 81 (57), idem.— “ Seynt Margarete was
holi maide and good.” The life of this saint printed by Dr.
Hickes (Thes. i. 224-231) is different.—See Black’s Cat. col. 66.

55. St. Mary Magdalen, f. 40, v°, (3.

“ Seinte Marie Magdaleyn, that God fo^af hire sunne.”

66. Of St. Mildride. f. 4J, v°, jS.

“ Seint Mildride, the holi mayde, of kynges kunne come.”

67. Of St. Cristine . f. 42, r°, (3.

“ Seint Cristine, this holi thing, as I ow telle con.”

58. Of St. Jem (James), f. 43, v°, a.

“ Seint Jem, the holi apostel, riht is to habben in mone.”

59. Of St. Alix. f. 44, i* (3.

“ Sitteth stille withouten strif,

And I wol tellen ou of a lyf

Of an holy mon,

Alix was his nome ;

To serven God thhujte him no schome :

Therof never he ne blon.”

60. Of the father and mother of St. Gregory , and how he was got. f. 45,

r°, o.

“ Alle that ich in word and dede I thonke hit God, al folkes kyng.”

61. Of the seven sleepers, f. 47, r°, (3.

“ Seve slepers were seli men, as me hath ou i-told bifore.”

62. Of St. Dominik. i. 47, v°, (3.

“ Seint Dominik, the noble frere, in Spayne was i-bore.”

Digitized by v^.ooQle

8 THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

68. Of St. Oswold. f. 49, r°, o.

“ Seint Oswold, the goode kyng, of that on ende of Engelonde.”

64. Of St. Cristofre. f. 49, r°, a.

“ Seint Cristofre was a Sarazin in the lond of Canaan.”

65. Of St. Laurence, f. 49, v°, /3.

“ Seint Laurence good mon was, and in strong martirdom.”

66 . Of St. Perpolyt. f. 50, r°, fi.

“ Seint Perpolit the martir kniht was with gret honour.”

67. Of St. Mary. f. 50, v°, a.

“ Seinte Marie, Godus moder, fro the apostles was heo nouht.”

See MS. Bodl. 799; Laud. B. 18 (5).

68 . Of St. Bartholomew 3 . f. 51, v°, a.

“ Seint Bartholomew, the holi mon, com of kynges blode.”

69. Of St. Oyles. f. 52, r°, /3.

“ Seint Gyles, the holi mon, lovede nothing sunne.”

70. Of St. Egwyne. f. 52, v°, /3.

“ Seint Egwyne, the holy mon, was here of Englonde.”

71. Of St. Mathew, f. 52, v°, /3.

“ Seint Matheu the Evangelist apostel he was i-wis.”

72. Of St. Michel, f. 53, v°, a.

“ Seint Michel the Archaungel and hise felawes also.”

73. Of St. Jerome, f. 54, v°, a.

“ Seint Jerome was swithe god clerk, and wis thorwh alle thinge.”

74. Of St. Justine, f. 55, r°, a.

“ Seynt Justine of heije men in Antioche com.”

75. Of St. Leger. f. 55, v°, a.

“ Seint Leger a bisschop was, an holi mon also i-nouh.”

76. Of St. Fraunceis (areX). f. 55, v°, fi.

“ Seint Fraunceis, the ffrere menour, that good mon was i-nouh.”
Ending, (arcX). —“ And as hit were men of witte this foules he gon
preche.”

77. Of St. Clement (o Kt<f). i. 65, r°, a.

“ Allas ! quath this gode mon, myne leve children threo.”

78. Of St. Katerine. f. 65, v°, o.

“ Seinte Katerine of noble kunne com bi olde dawe.”

79. Of St. Andrew, f. 66, v°, a.

“ Seint Andreu the Apostel was seint Petres brothur.”

80. Of St. Nicholas, f. 67, r°, /3.

“ Seint Nicholas, the holi mon, that god confessor was.”

81. Of St. Lmcie. f. 68 , v°, /3.

“ Seint Lucie the holy maide in Cicile was i-bore.”

Digitized by v^.ooQLe

THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

9

82. Of St. Martha, f. 09, r°, (3.

“ Seint Martha god wommon was, as je schule here telle.'*

83. Of St, Thomas, f. 70, r°, a,

“ Seint Thomas, the gode Apostel, i-martred was in Inde."

84. Of St, Stevene. f. 71, r°, /3.

“ Seint Stevene was a Gyeu, and of Gywes he com.*'

85. Of St, Jon, f. 71, v°, /3.

“ Seint Jon the Evangelist, that apostel also is."

86 . Of St, Thomas {Cant), f. 73, r°, (3.

“ Wolle 3 e nou undurstonde hou hit is i-write.”

Very many copies of this that I have examined have been crossed
out with a pen. areX.

“ Ac ur Lord, for seint Thomas love, his grace sone on hem caste.'*
f. 80, v°, (3.

87. De Sacta Paula (a/cc^). f. 89, r°, a.

“ Eithur othur thus to clothim and fede.'*

88 . Of Ambrose, and how he reproved Theodosius the Emperor, f. 89, v°, a.

“ Herkeneth, sires, for my purpose
Is ou to telle of Seint Ambrose.”

89. De quadam virgine in Antiochia. f. 91, v°, y.

“ At Antioche, as men han sayde,

Dwellede sum tyme a mayde.”

90. Quedam virgo invite in lupanari posita servavit pudiciciam. f. 92, r°, (3.

Beg.—“ Nou 30 maidens, alle and sum,

Lerneth the miracles of martirdom; /

Lemeth also, with liht faces,

The nomes of such maner places.'*

End.—“ The beginnyng of this martirdom,

Furst of that mayden com,

But the kniht the effecte folfuld,

For that he was furst i-culd:

But as God wolde for the nones,

Thei toke heor coroune bothe at ones.**

91. De duobus veris amide. f. 92, v°, y.

Beg.—“ Sumtyme men reden that ther was,

In a cuntre clept Pictogoras,

Dwellynge there twey men
I-clept Sithia and Climonen.”

End.—“ This lyf endyted Seint Ambrose

On Latyn; tak hede to his purpose.”

92. De sancta Theodora, f. 98, r°, o.

“ At Alisaundre, tel i ow con,

In the Emperours tyme Zenon.”

Digitized by v^.ooQle

10 THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

93. Of St. Bernard. f. 93, v°, y.

“ Seint Bernard bom was at Burgoyne.”

94. Of St. Austin, f. 96, r°, y.

“ Seint Austin was nempned that name.**

95. Of St. Savyn. f. 100, r°, p.

“ Sum tyme ther was an hethen man,

That men called Savyn than.”

96. The story of Barlaam and kyng Josafaph (imp.), f. 100, v°, p.

A MS. of this in old German verse of the 13th century in British
Museum, MS. Addit. 10288; Warton’s H. E.P. iii. p. 167; MS.
Laud, C. 72; MS. Bodl. 72, f. 288, v°.

Beg.—“ A good mon ther was and a clene,

A clerkmen callen Jon Damascene
Compiled the stori in good faath,

Of Barlaam and kyng Josafath.”

And wanting between these—

“ Confus awei then gon he wende,

Til he come to his secunde frende.”

“ I schal lete set up verreyliche
An ymage of gold al to the liche.”

End —“ Miracle is wrouht thorw Godus love.”

97. Life of St. Euphrosine of Alexandria, f. 103, r°, y.

Beg.—“ In Alisaundre, that grete citee,

Ther was a mon of much pouste ;

Pathmicius forsothe he hiht,

He kepte wel the heste of God almiht.”

This is probably derived from the Greek. See MS. Bodl. Bern. 277.

End.—“ The abbot and the convent with good chere,

Worschipeden God al i-feere ;

And so do we Him that sit above,

That he wolde, for that maydenes love,

Graunten us hevene withouten eende,

With him thierin for to leende ;

God graunte us grace that hit so be!

Amen! amen! for charite.”

98. A translation of “la, Estorie del Evangelie ” in English verse (arcX).

f. 105, r°, a.

With illuminated pictures. This should contain a full account
of the life of our Saviour, and many other copies exist in manu¬
script. One, I think, is in the Harleian collection. A rubric
informs us that it was translated from the Latin.

“ Sum while ich was with sunne i-bounde.”

It ends (arcX) at the end of the story of the Nativity, f. 105, v°, y.

Digitized by v^.ooQle

THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

11

99. Hymns ( wctty). f. 114, r°, a.

One of these hymns, beginning, “ Hail beo yow, Marie,” has been
printed by Warton, Hist. Engl. Poet. ii. 108.

100. The miracles of our Lady (arc\). f. 194, r°, y.

101. The Gospels in verse, f. 147, r°, a.

109. How a kyng servd hys brothur wyt mynstralsie. f. 115, v°, /3.

“ As hit bifel of a riche kyng.”

1O9*.0» the feasts of holy Church, f. 115, v°, y.

103. De festo Corporis Christi. f. 116, r°, a.

104. Septem miracula de corpore Christi. f. 197, r°, y.

105. The story of Lazarus, and other Gospel stories, f. 199, r°, (3.

Among these is a very curious poem on the story of Esther and
Ahasuerus, or of Amon or Hamon and Mardocheus or Mordecai,
formed into a fabulous romance. It commences

“ Mony wynter witerly,

Or Crist, weore boren of ure ladi,

A rich kynge, \n$te Ahaswere,

That stLf was on stede and stere.”

Another curious piece may also be noticed. It is entitled, “ The
visions of Seynt Poul wan he was rapt into Paradys,” and is
quoted by Warton, i. 19.

100 . The Pater noster. f. 931, v°.

107. The ten commandments, f. 933, r°, y.

108. Credo, f. 933, v°, o.

109. The prick of Conscience. f. 965, r°, y.

A very good copy of this poem is in MS. Ashm. 60, entitled,
“ Incipit Stimulus Consciencie a Ricardo Heremita de Hampole
compositus.” Few works of this class are more numerous in
manuscript collections.

110. The Prick of Love. i. 984, r°, a.

“ Her beginneth the Prikke of Love,

That profitable is to soule behove.

Beg —God that art of mijtes most,

Fader and Sone and Holi Gost,

Thow graunte hem alle thi blessyng,

That herken wel to this talkyng.”

Ad finem,—

“ Nou thou him knowest and his bounte,

Love him wel for charite,

Evermore to thi lyves ende;

To joye and blisse then schalt ou wende,

That he hath ordeyned for ure solace ;

Lord bring us thider for thin grace ! Amen.

Thus endeth the Spore of Love,

God grant us the blisse of hevene above.”

Digitized by v^.ooQle

THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

12

111. A disputation bytwme the bodi and the soule. f. 286, r°, y.

Printed in Wright’s edition of Walter Mapes, App., p. 840-346.
(Another copy of this in MS. Digb. 102.)

Ad finem,—

“ And Jehu, that us alle hast \\rr 0 u 3 t,

Lord, after thi feire face,

And mid thi precious blod i-boujt,

Of amendement jef us space,

So that thin hondewerk leose noujt
In so deolfiil stude and place ;

Ac the joye that thou hast wroujt

Graunte us, God, for thyn holy grace. Amen.”

112. Her is a gret lamentation between our Ladi and St. Bernard of

Christes passion, f. 287, r°, y.

] ] 3. A disputaeyon between the god man and the Devil, f. 288, v°, y.

114. The Castle of Love . f. 293, r°, y.

Init.—“ Her byginnet a tretys that is y-clept Castel of Love: That
bisschop Grosteyjt made y-wis for lewede mennes byhove.”

“ That good thenketh good may do,

And God wol helpe him therto:

For nas never good work wroujt
Withoute beginninge of good thou 3 t.”

116. Ypotis . f. 296, v°, a.

Tit.— “ Her biginneth a tretys

That me clepeth Ypotys.”

Beg.—“ Alle that wolleth of wisdom lere,

Lustneth nou and 30 may here
Of a tale of holy writ,

Seint Jon the Ewangelist witnesseth hit.”

End.—“ Thus endeth this spellyng
Of Jhesu, ure hevenly kyng;

God graunt us all his swete blessyng,

Schrift, and hosel, and good endyng. Amen.”

Other copies may be seen in MS. Cotton. Calig. A. ii. f. 77; Titus
A. xxvi; MS. Douce 323, art. 4; MS. Arundel 140, latter part
of the xv cent.; MSS. Ashm. 61 and 750.

116. Her beginneth a tretis of three messengers of death, f. 297, v°, y.

117. Short religious poems, f. 298, r°, /3.

118. Kyng Robert of Cicyle. f. 300, r°, y.

Tit. — “ Her is of kyng Robert of Cicyle,

Hou pride dude him begyle.”

Beg.—“ Princes proude that beth in pres,

I wol ou telle thing not lees.

In Cisyle was a noble kyng,

Fair and strong and sundel 3 yng.”

Digitized by v^.ooQle

THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

IS

Ad fin.—“ Evermore to ben above,

Ther is joye, comfort, and love. Amen.”

There are copies of this romance at London and Cambridge. It
is printed in Halliwell’s Nugce Poeticce, 1844, p. 49.

119. Disputacyon betwene Child Jehu and Masters of Laws of Jewri .

f. 301, v°, y.

120. Disputacyon betwene a Christen man and a Jewe. f. 301, v°, y.

Printed by Warton, in Hist. Eng . Poet . ii. 413.

121. How a man schuld here masse, f. 302, v°, a. . -

122. Story of St. Gregory . f. 303, v°, y.

123. Story of St. Bernard, f. 304, r°, y.

124. King of Teran and Soudan of Dammas. f. 304, v°, ft.

Printed by Ritson, in his Metrical Romances , from this MS.

Tit.—“ Her bigenneth of the kyng of Tars and of the Soudan of
Dammas; and how the Soudan of Dammas was i-cristened thorn
Godus gras.”

Beg.—“ Herkneth now, bothe olde and 3 yng,

For Marie love that swete thyng.”

End.—“ Graunt us alle in hevene liht,

To see thi swete face. Amen.”

125. Proverbs, f. 307, r°, ft.

120. Intel Caton . f. 309, v°, a.

127. Liber Catonis. f. 310, i", ft.

128. Short religious poems, f. 314, r°, ft.

129. Stimulus amoris. f. 319, r°, a.

130. A tretis that techeth to love God. f. 834, r°, a.

131. The form of perfect living , by Richard Hampole. f. 334, v°, ft.

Cf. MS. Tanner, 375.

132. A treatise of contemplative life. f. 348, r°, a.

In ninety-three chapters.

133. The mirour of St. Edmound. f. 350, r°, ft.

134. The Abbey of the Holy Ghost, f. 859, v°, ft.

Tit.—“ Heer biginneth a tretis that is clept the Abbey of the Holy
Gost, that is Concience of monnes herten schulde ben in this
Abbey most.”

Incip.—“Mi deore brethren and sustren.”

This treatise has been generally ascribed to bishop Alcock, but
erroneously. See Tanner, p. 24, and Syr Gawayne, Introd.

135. Spiritum Guidonis. f. 363, v°, ft.

130. Of the love of God f. 367, v°, ft.

Digitized by v^.ooQle

14 THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

137. Piers Plowman (arcX). f. 394, v°, /3.

Passus primus, f. 396, r°, a ; passus secundus, f. 395, v°, p ; passus
tertius, f. 396, r°, P ; passus quartus, f. 397, r°, a : passus quintus,
f. 397, y°, a ; passus sextus, f. 398, v°, p ; passus Septimus, f. 399,
v°, P; passus octavus, f. 400, r°, p ; passus nonus, f. 400, v°, p;
passus decimus, f. 401, r°, P.

138. The history of Pilate, in prose and verse (cu <*<£). f. 403, r°, a.

139. How mercy surpasseth all things, f. 407, r°, a.

“ Bi West under a wylde wode syde.” (16 st. of 12.)

140. Deo Gracias, f. 407, r°, y, and f. 407, v°, y.

“ In a chirche ther I con knel.” (10 st. of 8, and 6 st. of 8.)

141. Against my will I take my leave, f. 407, v°, a.

“ Nou bemes buirdes bolde and blythe.”

Alliterative (8 st. of 8). Printed by Ritson, in his collection of
Ancient Songs and Ballads , p. 44.

142. Deus caritas (7 st. of 8). f. 407, v°, fi.

“ Deus caritas est and deore God omnipotent.”

143. Each man ought himself to know (9 st. of 12). f. 407, v°.

“ In a pistel that Poul wroujt.”

144. On pster-day (15 st. of 12). f. 408, r°, a.

“ Whon men beoth muriest at heor mele.”

145. On the good keeping of Christ's commandments (13 st. of 8). f. 408, v°, a.

“ I wame uche leod that liveth in londe.”

146. For hos seith the so the, he schal be schent (8 st. of 12). f. 408, v°, p.

“ The mon that luste to liven in esq.”

147. Fye on a false friend (9 st. of 8). f. 408, v°, y.

“ Frenschipe faileth and fullich fadeth.”

148. Thank God of all; an antient poem beginning thus : “ By a wey

wandryng as I went ” (17 st. of 8). f. 409, r°, a.

The Ashm. copy (343) is written on two leaves of vellum, early in
the 16th century; the last stanza is defaced by stain and friction.
See Mr. Black’s Catalogue, col. 248.

149. The World a phantasy (11 st. of 12). f 409, r°, y.

“ I wolde witen of sum wys wiht.”

150. Mercy to God (12 st. of 8). f. 409, v°, a.

“ As I wandrede her bi Weste.”

151. Truth is best (9 st. of 8). f. 409, v°, y.

Beg.—“ Hose wolde him wel avyse.”

152. Charity no longer cheer (14 st of 8). f. 410, r°, a.

“ Hose wolde be thenkei him weel.”

153. Women the good of the world (14 st. of 8 ). f 410, r°, p.

“ In worschepe of that mayden swete.”

Digitized by v^.ooQle

THE VERNON MANUSCRIPT.

15

154. Prayer to the Virgin, f. 410, r°, y.

“ Off all floures feirest falle on.”

155. The Virgin's Flourdelys. f. 410, v°, p.

“ Marye mayden, moder mylde.”

150. Selden sey$e is soon foryete. f. 410, v°, y.

“ 0 dere God, what mai this be.”

This is an elegy on the death of Edward III, printed by Conybeare
in Archceol . vol. xviii, p. 22-26 (14 st. of 8).

167. A warning to beware . f. 411, r°, p.

“ Yit is God a curteis Lord.”

A poem on the disturbances and calamity of the earlier part of the
reign of Richard II, printed by Conybeare, in Archceol. vol. xviii,
p. 20-28(11 st. of 8).

158. A short poem. i. 411, r°, y.

“ Crist 3 ive us grace to love wel holi chirch.”

159. Say the best (7 st. of 8). f. 411, v°, a.

“ Quene of Hevene, moder and may.”

100. Make no tarrying till the morrow, f. 411, v°, a.

161. Amend thy sins (12 st. of 8). f. 411, v°, /3.

“ By a wode as I gon ryde.”

RICHARDS, PR1NTKR, ICO, ST MARTIN’S I.AXE.

Digitized by v^.ooQle

Digitized by v^.ooQle

Digitized by

Google

Digitized by DOQle

OstwrticNschc N*ionatot>loth«k